Remote control assembly having an improved locking design

ABSTRACT

A motion transmitting remote control assembly (10) including a length adjuster (18) having a first set of teeth (22) disposed along its top surface and a second set of teeth (26) disposed along its bottom surface, an interlock (64) having complementary teeth (76, 80) to interconnect with the first (22) and second (26) set of teeth, and a slider (40) having a head (42) and a shelf (44). The interlock (64) further includes a pair of legs (68, 70) to lock the slider (40) with respect to the length adjuster (18) with a first leg (68), having at least one tooth (76) to engage the first set of teeth (22), sandwiched between the head (42) and the length adjuster (18) and a second leg (70), having at least one tooth (80) to engage the second set of teeth (26), sandwiched between the length adjuster (18) and the shelf (44).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The subject invention relates generally to a motion transmitting remotecontrol assembly of the type for transmitting forces along a curved pathby a flexible core element supported in a conduit and, morespecifically, to an improved adjustment for adjusting the length ofeither the core element or the conduit.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Motion transmitting remote control assemblies of the type fortransmitting motion in a curved path by means of a flexible motiontransmitting core element are frequently used in automotive applicationsto control the movement of a device from a remote location. For example,the air intake valve of an internal combustion engine is typicallycontrolled from either a foot pedal or hand lever. Other examplesinclude the remote manipulation of transmissions, ventilation systems,fuel doors, and hood releases via a motion transmitting remote controlassembly. Such motion transmitting remote control assemblies maycomprise a protective sheath-like conduit which slidably supports aninternal moving core element. The conduits are often of the compositetype having an inner tubular liner defining the internal boundaries of acore passage, at least one metallic supportive lay wire wrappedhelically about the liner, and an outer cover disposed about the laywire. Alternatively, the conduit may be of the more traditional Bowdentype construction. The core element may be either a single wire or amulti-stranded cable.

Because of the inevitable dimensional variations occurring in anycomplex manufactured assembly, it is necessary to incorporate a lengthadjustment feature into the remote control assembly. That is, the lengthadjustment feature is provided to prevent slack or over-tension in theremote control assembly, and also to ease the assembly process. Forapplications requiring relatively high longitudinal force transfer, suchas when remotely controlling an automatic transmission, the prior artteaches a series of transversely extending teeth on one surface of arectangular housing and a slider internally of the housing with aninterlock member having teeth of its own transversely slidable to engagethe housing to effectively lock the slider in a fixed position relativeto the housing.

One example of such a prior art remote control assembly may be found inU.S. Pat. No. 5,709,132, issued to Irish et al. on Jan. 20, 1998; andassigned to the assignee of the subject invention. As shown in U.S. Pat.No. 5,709,132, the assembly includes a slider fixed with respect to alength adjuster with an interlock. Interlock includes a plurality ofteeth which interconnect with the teeth disposed along the top surfaceof length adjuster. The amount of longitudinal strip force which theassembly can withstand is directly proportional to the number ofinterlock teeth which interconnect with length adjuster teeth.Therefore, additional interlock teeth are required to increase theamount of longitudinal strip force which the assembly can withstand.However, increasing the number of interlock teeth lengthens theinterlock thereby decreasing the overall length to travel ratio or, inother words, the amount of length adjustment available. Accordingly,there is a need for a remote control assembly capable of withstandinghigher longitudinal strip forces without reducing its overall length totravel ratio.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION AND ADVANTAGES

The present invention provides a motion transmitting remote controlassembly for transmitting forces along a curved path. The assemblyincludes a tubular conduit and a flexible motion transmitting coreelement slidably disposed in the conduit for conveying longitudinalforces therealong. A length adjuster adjusts the longitudinal length ofone of the conduit and the core element. The length adjuster includes ahousing, which defines an interior opening having a predetermined width,having a first surface and a first set of transverse teeth along thefirst surface. A slider is longitudinally moveable within the interioropening of the length adjuster between maximum and minimum lengthadjusted positions. An interlock has at least one tooth transverselymoveable relative to the slider between a shipping position, in whichthe tooth is disengaged from the first set of teeth of the housing, anda locked position, in which the tooth engages the first set of teeth ofthe housing to transfer longitudinal forces therebetween. The assemblyis characterized by the housing having a second surface opposite thefirst surface of the housing and a second set of teeth along the secondsurface, the slider having a head and a first shelf extending from theslider, and the interlock having a first pair of top and bottom legs.The first top and bottom legs are respectively spaced and the head andthe first shelf are respectively spaced with the first top legsandwiched between the head and the first surface of the length adjusterand the first bottom leg sandwiched between the first shelf and thesecond surface of the length adjuster.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a remotecontrol assembly capable of withstanding higher longitudinal stripforces without reducing its overall length to travel ratio. Incomparison to a prior art remote control assembly having a set ofinterlock teeth which interconnect with teeth disposed along only onesurface of the length adjuster, this inventive assembly has effectivelydouble the number of mating interlock and length adjuster teeth and,therefore, can withstand twice the amount of longitudinal strip forcewhile providing an equal amount of length adjustment.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated asthe same becomes better understood by reference to the followingdetailed description when considered in connection with the accompanyingdrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a remote control assembly according to thepresent invention including a length adjuster, a slider, and aninterlock having a locking means;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the remote control assembly connected toa controlled member with the interlock shown in a locked position;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the remote control assembly connected tothe controlled member with the interlock shown in a shipping position;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 of theremote control assembly connected to the controlled member with thelocking means shown in a locking position; and

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5--5 of FIG. 2 of theremote control assembly connected to the controlled member with theinterlock shown sandwiched between the length adjuster and the slider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like orcorresponding parts throughout the several views, a motion transmittingremote control assembly is generally shown at 10. The assembly 10 is ofthe type including a flexible conduit, generally indicated at 12, havinga pair of spaced apart ends, only one of which is shown in FIG. 1. Theconduit 12 is preferably of the composite type having an inner tubularliner defining the internal boundaries of a core passage, at least onemetallic supportive lay wire wrapped helically about the liner, and anouter cover disposed about the lay wire.

A flexible core element 14 is slidably disposed in the conduit 12 forconveying longitudinal forces therealong. The core element 14 extendsfrom both ends of the conduit 12 and attaches, respectively, tocontrolling and controlled members. For example, the controlling end ofthe core element 14 may be connected to a shift lever (not shown) in thepassenger compartment, whereas the controlled end of the core element 14may be connected to the automatic transmission (also not shown). In theforgoing example where the core element 14 is required to transmit bothtensile and compressive forces, a rigid extension 16 is fixedlyconnected to the end of the core element 14 to provide column strength.In such circumstances, it is customary to encase a portion of the rigidextension 16 in a swivel tube as will become apparent to those skilledin the art. Of course, other applications of a motion transmittingremote control assembly which includes a conduit 12 and a core element14 are possible without departing from the invention as defined in theappended claims, and that many various alternative configurations of thepreferred embodiment disclosed herein are likewise possible.

Because of the inevitable dimensional variations between controlling andcontrolled devices in a typical motor vehicle, a length adjuster,generally indicated at 18, is provided for adjusting the longitudinallength of the core element 14. Those skilled in the art will appreciatethat the length adjuster 18 can be readily modified to adjust the lengthof the conduit 12 instead of the core element 14 to accomplishessentially the same results. The length adjuster 18 prevents slack orover-tension in the remote control assembly 10, relaxes the dimensionalcontrols observed during fabrication of the assembly 10, and alsosimplifies the vehicle installation process.

As shown in FIG. 1, the length adjuster 18 includes a housing 20 havinga first set of transverse teeth 22 along a first surface 24 and a secondset of transverse teeth 26 along a second surface 28. The second surface28 of housing 20 is opposite the first surface 24. The housing 20 has agenerally rectangular shape including an interior opening 30 extendingin the longitudinal direction and having a predetermined width. Thefirst set of teeth 22 and the second set of teeth 26 run perpendicularlyto the opening 30 and are positioned on flanking sides of the opening30. The first set of teeth 22 includes a top front row of teeth 32adjacent one side of the interior opening 30 and a top back row of teeth34 adjacent the opposite side of the interior opening 30. The second setof teeth 26 includes a bottom front row of teeth 36 adjacent one side ofthe interior opening 30 and a bottom back row of teeth 38 adjacent theopposite side of the interior opening 30. In the preferred embodiment,the rigid extension 16 of the core element 14 is embedded in the housing20, as by an overmolding operation. In this manner, the housing 20 andcore element 14 are integrally secured to one another.

The assembly 10 further includes a slider 40 longitudinally moveablewithin the predetermined width of the opening 30. The slider 40 includesa head 42, a first shelf 44, and a second shelf 46. The head 42 isdefined by a first flange 48 extending longitudinally from a first side50 of the slider 40 and a second flange 52 extending longitudinally froma second side 54 opposite the first side 50 of the slider 40. The head42, including first flange 48 and second flange 52, is more narrow thanthe predetermined width of the opening 30 allowing the head 42 to beinserted up through the opening 30. The first shelf 44 and the secondshelf 46 extend longitudinally from the first side 50 and the secondside 54 of the slider 40 respectively. Further, the first shelf 44 andthe second shelf 46 extend transversely from the first side 50 and thesecond side 54 respectively to be wider than the predetermined width ofthe opening 30 thereby preventing the slider 40 from passing completelythrough the opening 30 as shown in FIG. 2. In this manner, the slider 40is free to travel longitudinally back and forth in the opening 30between maximum and minimum length adjusted positions. The maximumlength adjusted position, defined by the end of the opening 30 distalthe rigid extension 16 of the core element 14, establishes the maximumlength to which the core element 14 can be adjusted by the lengthadjuster 18. Conversely, the minimum length adjusted position, definedby the end of the opening 30 proximate the rigid extension 16 of thecore element 14, establishes the minimum length to which the coreelement 14 can be adjusted by the length adjuster 18.

The slider 40 further includes a first slot 55 and a plurality ofcantilevered arms 56 defining a pocket 58 as shown in FIG. 4. The arms56 are normally disposed in a retaining position for retaining acontrolled member 62 in the pocket 58 but may be flexed to a receivingposition for receiving the controlled member 62. Each arm 56 includes aradially extending hook 57 for retaining the controlled member 62 in thepocket 58. Each hook 57 is chamfered to facilitate the flexing of thearms 56 when receiving the controlled member 62 into the pocket 58. In apreferred embodiment, the slider includes two cantilevered arms 56, anda second slot 59 on the side of the slider 40 opposite to the first slot55. Preferably, a ball stud 60, as shown in phantom, extends from thecontrolled member 62 such as an automatic transmission. The entireslider 40, including head 42, first shelf 44, second shelf 46, and arms56, may be integrally manufactured through an injection moldingoperation.

Assembly 10 further includes an interlock, generally indicated at 64,transversely movable relative to the slider 40. The interlock 64includes a locking means 65 movably supported by the interlock 64 formovement between a locking position, as shown in FIG. 4, to lock thearms 56 of slider 40 in the retaining position and a release positionallowing the arms 56 to move to the receiving position. In a preferredembodiment, the locking means 65 is a tongue 67 extending through thefirst slot 55 of slider 40 to lock one of the arms 56 in the retainingposition. Alternatively, the tongue 67 may be inserted into the secondslot 59 from the opposite direction.

The interlock 64 further includes a rectangular-shaped frame 66, a firstpair of top and bottom legs 68, 70, and a second pair of top and bottomlegs 72, 74. Each pair of legs 68, 70 and 72, 74 extend perpendicularlyfrom the frame 66. The first pair of top and bottom legs 68, 70 and thesecond pair of legs 72, 74 are spaced to receive the longitudinal lengthof the slider 40. In other words, the distance between the first pair oflegs 68, 70 and the second pair of legs 72, 74 is equal to or slightlygreater than the longitudinal length of the slider 40. Each pair of legs68, 70 and 72, 74 are spaced to receive the height of length adjuster18. In other words, the distance between first top leg 68 and firstbottom leg 70 and the distance between second top leg 72 and secondbottom leg 74 is equal or slightly greater than the height of lengthadjuster 18. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the assembly 10 is assembledwith the first top leg 68 sandwiched between the first flange 48 of head42 and the first surface 24 of length adjuster 18, the first bottom leg70 sandwiched between the second surface 28 of length adjuster 18 andthe first shelf 44, the second top leg 72 sandwiched between the secondflange 52 of head 42 and the first surface 24 of length adjuster 18, andthe second bottom leg 74 sandwiched between the second surface 28 oflength adjuster 18 and second shelf 46.

As best shown in FIG. 1, the first top leg 68 has at least one top fronttooth 76 and at least one top back tooth 78. The first bottom leg 70 hasat least one bottom front tooth 80 and at least one bottom back tooth82. The second top leg 72 has at least one top front tooth 84 and atleast one top back tooth 86. The second bottom leg 74 has at least onebottom front tooth 88 and at least one bottom back tooth 90. Front teeth76, 80, 84, and 88 are spaced from back teeth 78, 82, 86, and 90respectively to operate accordingly in a shipping position and a lockedposition.

When interlock 64 is in the shipping position, as shown in FIG. 3, thetop front teeth 76 and 84 are disengaged from the top front row of teeth32 of length adjuster 18 and positioned within opening 30 of housing 20,the bottom front teeth 80 and 88 are disengaged from the bottom frontrow of teeth 36 of length adjuster 18 and positioned within opening 30of housing 20, the top back teeth 78 and 86 are disengaged from the topback row of teeth 34 of length adjuster 18 and positioned outside ofhousing 20, and the bottom back teeth 82 and 90 are disengaged from thebottom back row of teeth 38 of length adjuster 18 and positioned outsideof housing 20. This allows free sliding movement of the slider 40 in theopening 30 between the maximum and minimum length adjusted positions asdescribed above.

When interlock 64 is manually shifted to the locked position, as shownin FIG. 2, the top front teeth 76 and 84 engage the top front row ofteeth 32 of length adjuster 18, the bottom front teeth 80 and 88 engagethe bottom front row of teeth 36 of length adjuster 18, the top backteeth 78 and 86 engage the top back row of teeth 34 of length adjuster18, and the bottom back teeth 82 and 90 engaged the bottom back row ofteeth 38 of length adjuster 18. The interlock teeth engage the lengthadjuster teeth to transfer longitudinal forces therebetween and thusmanipulate the controlled member which in the example thus given is anautomatic transmission. As the legs 68, 70, 72, and 74 bear directlyagainst the slider 40, the transfer of longitudinal forces pass from thecore element 14, to the rigid extension 16, to the housing 20, throughthe mating interlock and length adjuster teeth, to the legs 68, 70, 72,and 74, to the slider 40, and finally to the ball stud 60, and viceversa.

Assembly 10 further includes a pair of cantilevered latches or catches92 and 94 for restraining the interlock 64 in the locked position andfor retaining the tongue 67 in the locking position. Each catch 92 and94 is effectively isolated from the longitudinal forces transmittedbetween the core element 14 and the ball stud 60 without unfavorableeffects resulting from the longitudinal forces. Catches 92 and 94 extendparallel and adjacent to top legs 68 and 72 respectively. Head 42includes a pair of notches 96 and 98 in first flange 48 and secondflange 50 respectively to receive catches 92 and 94 and provide degreeof resistance in the shipping position. When interlock 64 is manuallyshifted to the locked position, catches 92 and 94 automatically engage alongitudinal edge 96 of shelf 42 thereby restraining the interlock 64 inthe locked position and retaining the tongue 67 in the locking position.When catches 92 and 94 are selectively deflected away from thelongitudinal edge 100 of shelf 42, interlock 64 may be manually returnedto the shipping position with the tongue 67 being moved to the releaseposition. One skilled in the art will appreciate that the presentinvention may be practiced with one cantilevered catch.

The invention has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is tobe understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to bein the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.

Obviously, many modifications and variations of the present inventionare possible in light of the above teachings. It is, therefore, to beunderstood that within the scope of the appended claims, whereinreference numerals are merely for convenience and are not to be in anyway limiting, the invention may be practiced otherwise than asspecifically described.

What is claimed is:
 1. A motion transmitting remote control assembly(10) for transmitting forces along a curved path, said assembly (10)comprising:a tubular conduit (12); a flexible motion transmitting coreelement (14) slidably disposed in said conduit (12) for conveyinglongitudinal forces therealong; a length adjuster (18) for adjusting thelongitudinal length of one of said conduit (12) and said core element(14), said length adjuster (18) including a housing (20) defining aninterior opening (30) having a predetermined width, said housing (20)having a first surface (24) and a first set of transverse teeth (22)along said first surface (24); a slider (40) longitudinally moveablewithin said interior opening (30) of said length adjuster (18) betweenmaximum and minimum length adjusted positions; and an interlock (64)having at least one tooth (76, 78, 84, or 86) transversely moveablerelative to said slider (40) between a shipping position in which saidtooth (76, 78, 84, or 86) is disengaged from said first set of teeth(22) of said housing (20) and a locked position in which said tooth (76,78, 84, or 86) engages said first set of teeth (22) of said housing (20)to transfer longitudinal forces therebetween; said assembly (10)characterized by said housing (20) having a second surface (28) oppositesaid first surface (24) of said housing (20) and a second set of teeth(26) along said second surface (28), said slider (40) having a head (42)and a first shelf (44) extending from said slider (40), and saidinterlock (64) having a first pair of top (68) and bottom (70) legs,said first top (68) and bottom (70) legs respectively spaced and saidhead (42) and said first shelf (44) respectively spaced with said firsttop leg (68) sandwiched between said head (42) and said first surface(24) of said length adjuster (18) and said first bottom leg (70)sandwiched between said first shelf (44) and said second surface (28) ofsaid length adjuster (18).
 2. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1wherein said first top leg (68) includes at least one top tooth (76 or78) engaged with said first set of teeth (22) and said first bottom leg(70) includes at least one bottom tooth (80 or 82) engaged with saidsecond set of teeth (26) in said locked position.
 3. An assembly (10) asset forth in claim 1 wherein said first set of teeth (22) along saidfirst surface (24) includes a top front row of teeth (32) adjacent oneside of said interior opening (30) and a top back row of teeth (34)adjacent the opposite side of said interior opening (30) and whereinsaid second set of teeth (26) along said second surface (28) includes abottom front row of teeth (36) adjacent one side of said interioropening (30) and a bottom back row of teeth (38) adjacent the oppositeside of said interior opening (30).
 4. An assembly (10) as set forth inclaim 3 wherein said first top leg (68) includes at least one top fronttooth (76) and one top back tooth (78), said top front tooth (76) andsaid top back tooth (78) respectively spaced with said top front tooth(76) engaged with said top front row of teeth (32) and said top backtooth (78) engaged with said top back row of teeth (34) and said firstbottom leg (70) includes at least one bottom front tooth (80) and onebottom back tooth (82), said bottom front tooth (80) and said bottomback tooth (82) respectively spaced with said bottom front tooth (80)engaged with said bottom front row of teeth (36) and said bottom backtooth (82) engaged with said bottom back row of teeth (38) in saidlocked position.
 5. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 1 whereinsaid head (42) is defined by a first flange (48) extendinglongitudinally from a first side (50) of said slider (40) and is morenarrow than said predetermined width of said interior opening (30) topass said head (42) therethrough.
 6. An assembly (10) as set forth inclaim 5 wherein said slider (40) includes a first side (50) said firstshelf (44) extends longitudinally from said first side (50) of saidslider (40) and transversely to be wider than said predetermined widthof said interior opening (30) for preventing said slider (40) frompassing through said interior opening (30) of said housing (20) and forsupporting said bottom leg (70) in said locked position.
 7. An assembly(10) as set forth in claim 6 further including a cantilevered catch (92)extending parallel and adjacent to one of said first pair of top (68)and bottom (70) legs for restraining said interlock (64) in said lockedposition by engaging one of said head (42) and said first shelf (44). 8.An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said first flange (48)of said head (42) includes a notch (96) and a longitudinal edge (100),said catch (92) extending parallel and adjacent to said top leg (68) forrestraining said interlock (64) in said shipping position by engagingsaid notch (96) and for restraining said interlock (64) in said lockedposition by engaging said longitudinal edge (100).
 9. An assembly (10)as set forth in claim 6 wherein said slider (40) includes a second side(54) opposite said first side (50) and a second flange (48) generallyidentical to said first flange (48) further defining said head (42),said second flange (52) extending longitudinally from said second side(54) and being more narrow than said predetermined width of saidinterior opening (30) to pass said head (42) therethrough.
 10. Anassembly (10) as set forth in claim 9 wherein said slider (40) includesa second shelf (46) generally identical to said first shelf (44), saidsecond shelf (46) extending longitudinally from said second side (54)and transversely to be wider than said predetermined width of saidinterior opening (30) for preventing said slider (40) from passingthrough said interior opening (30) of said housing (20).
 11. An assembly(10) as set forth in claim 10 wherein said interlock (64) includes asecond pair of top (72) and bottom (74) legs generally identical to saidfirst pair of top (68) and bottom legs (70) with said second top leg(72) sandwiched between said second flange (52) of said head (42) andsaid first surface (24) of said length adjuster (18) and said secondbottom leg (74) sandwiched between said second shelf (46) and saidsecond surface (28) of said length adjuster (18).
 12. An assembly (10)as set forth in claim 11 wherein said second top leg (72) includes atleast one top tooth (84 or 86) engaged with said first set of teeth (22)and said second bottom leg (74) includes at least one bottom tooth (88or 90) engaged with said second set of teeth (26) in said lockedposition.
 13. An assembly (10) as set forth in claim 12 wherein saidfirst set of teeth (22) along said first surface (24) includes a topfront row of teeth (32) adjacent one side of said interior opening (30)and a top back row of teeth (34) adjacent the opposite side of saidinterior opening (30) and said second set of teeth (26) along saidsecond surface (28) includes a bottom front row of teeth (36) adjacentone side of said interior opening (30) and a bottom back row of teeth(38) adjacent the opposite side of said interior opening (30).
 14. Anassembly (10) as set forth in claim 13 wherein said second top leg (72)includes at least one top front tooth (84) and one top back tooth (86),said top front tooth (84) and said top back tooth (86) respectivelyspaced with said top front tooth (84) engaged with said top front row ofteeth (32) and said top back tooth (86) engaged with said top back rowof teeth (34) and said second bottom leg (74) includes at least onebottom front tooth (88) and one bottom back tooth (90), said bottomfront tooth (88) and said bottom back tooth (90) respectively spacedwith said bottom front tooth (88) engaged with said bottom front row ofteeth (36) and said bottom back tooth (90) engaged with said bottom backrow of teeth (38) in said locked position.